Ratchet mechanism



Dec. 18 1923. T. J. FEGLEY ET AL RATCHET- MECHANISM Filed April 5. 1925 Patented Dec. 11%,

THOMAS J. FEGLEY AND GEGRGE O. LEOPOLD, OF PHILADELP HIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS 'ro Non'rn .eno's con-roaarion or rnnnsrtvanra.

MFG (30., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

RATCHET MECHANISM.

Application filed April 3,

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, THOMAS J. FEGLEY and Gnoncr. G. LnoroLn, citizens of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Tar provements in Ratchet Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a construction of ratchet mechanism for use in combination with a hand brace, although it will be un derstood that it can be used in connection with other hand tools without departing from the essential features of the invention.

The object of the invention is to design the ratchet mechanism so that it can be readily assembled and quickly dismantled for repairs and which, when assembled, is substantial and capable of withstanding any strains to which it is subjected.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View of ur improved ratchet mechanism designed to be used in connection with a hand brace;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2, Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view showing certain parts in detail; and

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the pawls and the shifter therefor.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the casing having a hollow extension 2 to which the lower member 3 of the brace is attached. Within the casing is a bushing 4, shaped as shown in Fig. 4, and having a slot 5 therein for the reception or the pawls 6, 6. The bushing has a central opening 7 for the spindle 8 and the major portion of the slot communicates with the cylinder, but the upper portion is shallow so as to give a complete circular bearing for the upper end 8' 01": the spindle. On the spindle are ratchet teeth 9, which are engaged by the arms of the pawls 6 in the ordinary manner. The bushing has upper and lower notches 10 to receive the projecting pivot portions 11 of the pawls. A spring shifter 12 has projecting end portions 13, which rest on the pawls. When the shifter is moved to one extreme position, one pawl is raised out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, and, when moved to the opposite extreme position, the other pawl is raised clear or" the 1923. Serial No. 629,663.

ratchet teeth. When the shifter is in the central position, both pawls are in engagement with the ratchet teeth and the spindle is locked to the casing. On the shifter is a pin 14, which projects through a notched slot 15 in the casing and carried by the pin is a plate 16 having projections 17 that enter the notches in the casing and hold the shifter in any or its three positions.

The spindle 8 is held in the bushing by a key 18, which extends through a slot 19 in the bushing and under the teeth 9/ In order to prevent the bushing turning in the casing, a heyway 20 is formed in the casing and a keyway 21 is formed in the bushing. A key 22 is driven into the keyways, locking the two parts together.

The end 8 of the spindle bears against a plate 23 resting on the bushing. This plate hasa projection 24 that enters the keyway 20 in the casing. A cap 25 is screwed'into the casing and holds the plate in position. The spindle extends through a sleeve 26, which has a screw threaded portion engaging the threaded end of the casing.

In assembling the parts, the bushing is mounted on the spindle and the key is inserted, locking the spindle to the bushing. Then the pawls are mounted in the slotted portion of the bushing and the spring shifter is placed in position in the casing, after which the bushing, with the other parts attached, is slipped into the casing and is held by the sleeve 26 at one end and at the opposite end by the cap 25.

We claim:

1. The combination in ratchet mechanism, of a casing; a bushing located in the casing; a toothed spindle extending through the bushing, the bushing having a transverse slot therein; a key located in the slot and holding the spindle to the bushing, said bushing having a longitudinal key slot therein, the casing also having a longitudinal key slot; a key located in the slots and preventing the bushing turning in the casing; a longitudinal slot in the bushing; pawls mounted in the slot and engaging the spindie; and a shifter for the pawls.

2. The combination of a casing; a bushing located in the casing; a key preventing the rotation of the bushing in the casing; a spindle having ratchet teeth thereon, said spindle being mounted in the bushing; a

transverse slot in the bushing in line with the under side of the teeth on the spindle; a key mounted in the slot and engaging the spin-de, the upper end of the bushing forming a cylindrical bearing for the end of the spindle, the bushing having a longitudinal slot therein and having notches at each end of the slot; paWls pivotally mounted in the notches and located in the slot; a spring shifter resting on the pewls, the casing hav- 10 end of the casing and forminge hearing for the spindle.

THOMAS J. FEGLEY. GEORGE O. LEOPOLD. 

